Top 9: My Favorite Restaurants In The Bay Area!

Hey Family! Here are some of my favorite places to eat in the Bay Area!

Going to restaurants and bars to enjoy a meal without having to cook, to connect with friends and family, and to support businesses that are an important part of many communities. 

Eating out during the Pandemic became a luxury! With most activities like going to a bar, clubs, theme parks, and more not available the next best thing was going out to eat! 

In California, so many health mandates are in place to help keep the spread of Covid under control; outdoor seating, social distancing, mask requirements, cleaning, and disinfecting of surfaces. 

Pear Street Bistro

2395 San Pablo Ave Pinole, CA 94564

Website- http://pearstreetbistro.com

Pear Street Bistro is one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants! We moved to San Pablo in 2017 and it was important to find a chill spot to have a drink and have some great food. It’s actually pretty upscale, I’ve even had my birthday dinner here! 

Pear Street Bistro has been a fixture on the Pinole dining scene since it opened in 2002. A casual New American-fare menu teams up with a sizable cocktail list at this spacious eatery & bar.

A kitchen fire in 2014 led to a major modern remodel of the restaurant says Mary Oriln of Mercury News. The owner took the opportunity to revamp the decor and menu while keeping some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes.

Faves on the menu:

Bistro Nachos ($21.50)

Petite Chicken & Waffles ($15.50)

Mushroom Ravioli ($19.50)

Hawaiian Rainbow Shots ($48)

Review: Pinole’s revived Pear Street Bistro shines

Salito’s Crab House & Prime Rib

1200 Bridgeway Sausalito, CA 94965

Website- https://www.salitoscrabhouse.com

Salito’s has been a long-standing part of the Sausalito landscape-Zack’s in the seventies, then Margaritaville, and most recently Paradise Bay. The new look is fresh, bright, and full of casual ambiance. 

We came here for my cousin Dineka’s Birthday last year & it’s become a date night spot since. Its large decks overlook the water and the beauty of the area is breathtaking. With heat lamps, sitting on beautiful Richardson Bay in Sausalito, the blue sky and sparkling water make the perfect setting for an afternoon or evening of cocktails or dining al fresco at Salito’s.

Enjoy one of several refreshing Cocktail Specials available from the full bar. A casual bite or a full-on feast-either one or something in between is the perfect Salito’s experience. 

Signature dishes include:

• House-made fresh crispy kettle bread
• Whole roasted Dungeness crab
• Sizzling iron-skillets of mussels, shrimp, and crab
• USDA Prime, prime rib
• Seafood specialties
• Crab chowder, interesting salads, and creative sandwiches
• Freshly-made beignets

Faves on the menu:

½ Crab, double mussels ($49.99)

Crab melt (19.99)

Garlic Noodles (19.99)

Filet Mignon Steak with potatolitos (39.99)

Italian Lemonata ($11.99)

Romano’s Macaroni Grill

8000 El Cerrito Plz El Cerrito, CA 94530

Website- https://www.macaronigrill.com

I started going to Romano’s Macaroni Grill in Elk Grove, Ca with my Uncle & Aunt as a kid ordering simple spaghetti. Now that I’m older, exploring the menu has been so much fun! 

Romano’s Macaroni Grill is a casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine. The company has about 88 locations around the world and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Romano’s Macaroni Grill menu features items found in traditional cuisine from Italy and the Mediterranean area. 

The menu includes a custom-assembled pasta dish, with a choice of pasta, sauces, and toppings. Meals are served with complimentary bread and olive oil. The chain touts its sourcing of various ingredients directly from family-owned businesses in Italy for quality and flavor. 

Faves on the menu:

Parmesan-crusted Chicken Salad ($14)

Chicken Parmesan ($18.50)

Pasta Milano ($18)

Create your own Pasta ($16.50)

Strawberry Italian Margarita ($9.50)

Sukie’s Country Kitchen

2400 El Portal Dr San Pablo, CA 94806

Website- https://www.sukiescountrykitchen.com

Sukie’s is my go to breakfast spot in the region! Classic and hearty American breakfasts and lunches with Bay Area specialties!

From their home-baked biscuits, country gravy, and sausages, to their fresh house salads and hot lunch plates. The food they serve to San Pablo and the surrounding neighbors is completely amazing. I started ordering breakfast for my coworkers a couple of years ago and haven’t stopped since. The skillets are to die for and the teriyaki chicken is beyond amazing! Here are some more favorites.

Faves on the menu:

Cowboy Skillet ($14.65)

Country Fried Steak Breakfast ($15.95)

Chicken Teriyaki ($13.95)

Tuna Melt ($11.95)

Philly Cheese Steak ($12.95)

Strawberry Lemonade ($2.95)

Up & Under Pub & Grill

2 W Richmond Ave Point Richmond, CA 94801

Website- https://theupandunder.com

My boss treated me to a celebration lunch at this friendly neighborhood pub. They feature everything from salads, belly-filling large plates, mini-morsels, an extensive beer and wine list, and much more. You’ll love their Pub menu and daily specials; go check it out. The Dirty Hooker is bomb af, Grilled cheese with bacon, grilled onions, and tomatoes.

They offer off-site catering for any event, big or small. The pub also accommodates private events in their cozy backroom or the upstairs banquet room, The Up & Up. Contact them for details and scheduling.

Whether you’re in the mood for a fun night out, relaxed conversation, or just a great meal, the Up & Under is a great gathering place. They are in two locations: the historical district of Point Richmond, California, and in El Sobrante, California.

Faves on the menu:

8 Man- Philly Cheesesteaks Sandwich ($10)

Dirty Hooker- Grilled Cheese w/ Bacon ($10)

Potato Skins ($6)

Fried Brussel Sprouts ($6)

Rib Plate ($17)

El Diablo- Tequila ($8)

Gott’s Roadside

644 1st St The Oxbow Public Market Napa, CA 94559

Website- https://www.gotts.com

This special gem right here! I’m a huge fan of a great burger and Gott’s hit the spot. Bre & I first hit the St. Helena restaurant on our way back from mud baths and massages at Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa & Resort. Perfect meal for after a relaxed evening.

Gott’s Roadside was founded in 1999 in Saint Helena by brothers Joel and Duncan Gott. Gott’s California-inspired dishes and seasonal specials use locally sourced ingredients and purveyors such as Niman Ranch beef, Zoe’s bacon, Panorama Bakery bread, and Osprey Seafood.

Gott’s modern approach to American roadside classics has something for everyone including dishes like the California Burger with a fried egg, Zoe’s bacon, and balsamic onions, Ahi Poke Crispy Tacos with sushi-grade Ahi tuna, Chicken Kale Caesar, and hand-spun organic shakes.

Faves on the menu:

Baja Fish Taco ($13.99)

Texas Avocado Burger ($11.99)

California Burger ($14.99)

Chicken Parmesean Sandw (13.99)

Cobb Salad ($14.99)

Pinot Grigio Seaglass- Santa Barbara County ($7)

Forge Pizza

155 Gasser Dr Ste B Napa, CA 94559

Website- https://www.theforgepizza.com

I planned a Valentine’s Day lunch for Bre & I this February in the middle of our wine tour. The Forge offers the best relaxed, casual dining experience around including a dog-friendly patio at both of their locations! We enjoyed our meal in their outside heated patio area, we felt bad we left Louis Vuitton at home.

Since 2013, the original pizza place in Oakland launched, they’ve been excited to be an integral part of the Bay Area food scene.

At The Forge, they know it takes genuine dedication, mouth-watering fresh food, high-quality ingredients, and a unique, inviting atmosphere that no other Oakland eateries or Napa restaurants can match. The brussel sprouts and fish & chips were so amazing! I can’t wait to go back when the full restaurant is open to enjoy the full ambiance and full bar!

Faves on the menu:

Citrus Apple Salad ($14)

Brussels Sprouts ($8)

Cauliflower Pizza ($19)

Pepperoni Pizza ($18)

Fish and Chips ($18) 

Forge Burger ($17)

Firewater Margarita ($10)

Skates On The Bay

100 Seawall Dr. Berkeley, CA 94710

Website- https://www.skatesonthebay.com

Skates on the Bay is a beautiful and historic waterfront gathering place for fresh seafood and unmatched views of the San Francisco Bay, offering lunch, brunch, and dinner dining year-round.

Originally opened in 1984 in the Berkeley Marina, the reimagined Skates on the Bay now boasts modern and stunning decor, a new Raw Bar, elegant Private Dining Room, and innovative local-driven menus.

Stop by for a quick bite in the bar, sample the freshest shellfish and sushi from their raw bar, or come celebrate a special occasion with an elegant brunch or romantic dinner. Perfect for date night or an after-work drink.

Faves on the menu:

Oven Roasted Crab & Artichoke Dip ($18)

California Roll ($15)

Seafood Bucatini ($33)

Rocky Jr. Free Range Lemon Thyme Chicken ($27) 

American Wagyu Sirloin ($39)

Key Lime Pie ($10)

Ultimate Lemon Drop ($14)

Noodle King

14350 Laurie Ln Ste I San Pablo, CA 94806

Website- https://www.yelp.com/biz/noodle-king-san-pablo-2?osq=Noodle+King

Last but definitely not least, Noodle King! I just know when I’m craving sushi or some bomb noodles this is the place. No more than 4 blocks from my house this is a weekly stop. Deep-fried California rolls are my absolute favorite and the Salmon Teriyaki is simply delicious.

Faves on the menu:

Deep-Fried California Roll ($7)

Dragon Roll ($12)

Sizzling House Combination Platter ($11)

Salmon Teriyaki ($10.95)

Bento Box Combination ($13)

Steps to protect yourself at a bar or restaurant:

• Eat outdoors, if possible. You are less likely to get or spread COVID-19 during outdoor activities. Look for seating options that are outside and have proper ventilation of outdoor air, such as tents that have open doors or rolled-up sides.
• Wear masks at all times, both indoors and outdoors, except when you are actively eating or drinking. Masks help protect both you and those around you.
• Avoid crowds and sit at tables spaced at least 6 feet apart from people you don’t live with, both indoors and outdoors. If you are standing, stay at least 6 feet apart from those who do not live with you.
• Limit alcohol consumption. Consuming alcohol may make you less likely to follow COVID-19 safety measures.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before eating and when exiting the restaurant or bar. If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Ask for individual condiments and salt and pepper packets, as the condiments on the table may not be cleaned between patrons.
• Minimize the time you spend in the restaurant or bar. The longer you stay, the more you increase your risk.

Go out & explore! These are only a few areas in the Bay that you can try with a few menu selections to enjoy! Use this as a resource, let me know if you like blog posts like these in the comments, I can make more! Protect yourself & be safe!

Thank You for being here Family!